'Fugitive' Mallya should return to India for questioning: CPI

Appreciating the U.K. Government for clearing India's request for the extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday said the 'fugitive' was needed in the country for questioning and examination.

CPI leader D. Raja said the Indian Government should perceive the issue and see Mallya comes back to India as early as possible.

"If you go by legal terms, Vijay Mallya is a fugitive and is needed here for questioning, examination, for his default of public sector banks. This issue has been raised in the Parliament and outside it also. Now, the British Government has agreed for his extradition and the Government of India should perceive the issue and see he comes back to India as early as possible," Raja told ANI.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday informed that extradition of absconding Mallya has been certified by Secretary of State of the U.K. Government and soon a warrant would be released against him.

"Somewhere in the month in the month of February, the home office of the U.K. Government conveyed that India's request for extradition of Mallya has been certified by Secretary of State and sent to Westminster Magistrate court for a district judge consider issue of releasing of warrant," MEA official spokesperson Gopal Bagley said.

Earlier in March, the Supreme Court fast-tracked the proceedings against Mallya and reserved its order on contempt proceedings against him for allegedly diverting $40 million to his children's accounts in foreign banks in violation of court orders.

A bench of Justices A.K. Goel and U.U. Lalit reserved its order on whether or not Mallya was guilty of contempt and what action should be taken to bring back the money.

The court concluded the proceedings after a three-and-a-half-hour hearing during which the Centre contended that Mallya was mocking the Indian system after fleeing the country. It said the government was holding talks with U.K. authorities to get him deported.